The Hidden Mountain Pass

There was indeed water up ahead. The stream you followed lead to a large pool or small lake. You could also see that the water was rushing over a ledge at the far side, and though the little stream you followed could not possibly keep such a large body of water present, magically the pool remained.

You go up to the edge of the water and call out to it, "Anybody there?" You felt a little silly, but you were curious. Turns out your instincts were right, something that looked like a giant brown catfish swam into view.

He floated about lazily, not ever breaking the surface of the water. Every now and then he turned his head towards you, but didn't seem particularly interested in the land creature hanging over the edge of the water trying not to get wet. Eventually he got bored and swam off.

This time when you call you you smack your hand down on the surface of the water. This brought a pair of smaller aquatic felines to investigate.

They were a cute, colourful pair, and more inquisitive than the first one was. They almost came to the surface to check you out. After blowing a few bubbles in your direction, they give each other a look, apparently giggle soundlessly, and swim off.

You didn't have to summon the next one, this male came on his own.

His eyes sparkled and his back flamed. Very much like Azura's, though his was an eerie blue that illuminated the water around him, flickering faintly from the depths as he rose to the surface. His eyes glittered at you strangely through the shifting liquid barrier, and then in a flick he was gone.

You soon found out why. A very outgoing yellow feline swam up to the surface with a big grin on her face.

She didn't even pause before pushing her head out of the water, followed by her entire body. Then she was standing next to you on the shore. A moment later you were offered (whether you wanted it or not) a free shower and she made a grand show of shaking out her fur.

"Hello there, I'm Mephilis. You just missed Eran, wonder why he flipped off so fast, ah well. I heard about you from Nerat and Naret...I can never remember which is which, but one's male and the other's female...I think. Well, its not important. Oh, and I met Vern along the way, you probably saw him too. Was there anybody I missed?"

You step back a moment stunned by the torrential rainfall of words, especially noticeable after the perfect silence of the others.

"Hello? Cat got your tongue?" she chuckles. "Ah, never mind. Places to go, things to do. Tah tah!"

She turns around and makes a belly flop into the water, just for the purpose of getting you wet again. You sigh, and decide to walk around to see the waterfall. You should be dry by the time you get there.